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Imaging features of pharyngeal hairy polyps in infants
Meijun Sheng1, Yanhong Mi2, Fusheng Gao2
1Department of Surgical Intensive Care Unit, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, 3333 Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Hairy polyps are common infant oral-nasopharyngeal growths. Radiological analysis reveals characteristic features like a well-defined, fat-density mass with a stalk, aiding diagnosis in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Congenital Malformations
- Head and Neck Imaging
Background:
- Hairy polyps represent the most frequent congenital oral-nasopharyngeal malformation in infants.
- These growths can precipitate severe complications in newborns.
- Existing literature on their radiological characteristics is limited, primarily consisting of case reports.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the typical radiological features of oral-nasopharyngeal hairy polyps.
- To identify imaging characteristics with the highest diagnostic efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric cases diagnosed with hairy polyps (2014-2019).
- Radiological evaluations included assessment of tumor size, location, morphology, density/signal characteristics, and enhancement patterns.
- Imaging modalities utilized were CT and MRI.
Main Results:
- Six infant cases were analyzed, presenting with symptoms like cyanosis, dyspnea, oropharyngeal mass, and snoring.
- Lesions originated from the tubal torus, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall.
- Radiological findings consistently showed pedicled, polyp-like, well-circumscribed masses with fat density/signal and a stalk.
- Contrast-enhanced scans demonstrated non-enhancement of fat components and mild enhancement of the stalk.
Conclusions:
- Hairy polyps exhibit distinct and typical radiological features.
- A pedicled, polyp-like, well-circumscribed mass with fat density/signal and a stalk in the infant oral-nasopharynx strongly suggests a diagnosis of hairy polyp.
Background:
Hairy polyps are the most common congenital deformity of the oral-nasopharynx/oral cavity in infants, which may lead to severe complications in the newborns. However, few studies have been published with respect to their radiological features, and most are case reports.
Objective:
This study aimed to analyze radiological features of the oral‑nasopharyngeal hairy polyps and to identify the radiological features with the highest diagnostic value.
Materials And Methods:
From 2014 to 2019, pediatric cases pathologically diagnosed as hairy polyps and having received radiological examination at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University were retrospectively analyzed. Radiological evaluations were conducted on tumor size, location, morphology, density or signal features as well as the enhancement pattern.
Results:
A total of six infants were recruited. Clinical features observed in these cases included choking on milk with cyanosis, intermittent dyspnea, oropharyngeal mass, and snoring. Lesions were derived from the left tubal torus in three out of six cases, from the left lateral aspect of soft palate in one, from the left lateral pharyngeal wall in one, and from the right tubal torus in one. They were shown as pedicled polyp-like well-circumscribed mass with fat density or signal as well as a stalk on CT or MRI. In the contrast-enhanced scan, the fat components were not enhanced, while the stalk was mildly enhanced.
Conclusion:
Hairy polyps had typical radiological features. Hairy polyps should be considered for pedicled polyp-like well-circumscribed mass in the oral-nasopharynx of infants with fat density or signal as well as a stalk.
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